August 4, 202

     Anyone who has owned a dog can appreciate the sentiment of the statement above. One of the great and sad things about dogs is their devotion. Many pet owners have experienced their dogs looking up to them, trusting them, and following them anywhere without hesitation. This positive regard goes a long way in cementing the relationship between a dog and it’s master. 

     I recently experienced the tenacity of my dog’s devotion. I was carrying a large armful of groceries and trying to get in the back door. I didn’t notice that Apollo was trying to get in with me. When I worked my way through the door I let it slam right onto the dog. He yelped and ran from the door with his tail between his legs. I set down the groceries and wanted to make sure he was okay. I kneeled down and called him. Even though I had just slammed the door on him he came without hesitation. I gave him a pat and looked at his back leg which was fine. 

     Many pet owners could tell similar stories about how they were forgiven immediately by their pets even after doing worse things than slamming a door. These experiences help us to appreciate the sentiment of the saying from the title “Lord help me be the person my dog thinks I am.” However there is another statement we take from our interactions with dogs, “once bitten twice shy.” This expresses there very human tendency to avoid painful situations. 

     In our lives we will often encounter people that for various reasons will do the equivalent of slamming the door on us. The slight may be on purpose or by mistake, but the hurt is real either way. It’s tempting in situations like that to write people off and avoid them. To give up on them and avoid the possible hurt coming at our next interaction. 

     Imagine what a state we would be in if Jesus took that approach. During his ministry he was repeatedly rejected, challenged, and even attacked. He could have simply given up on humanity and left us to our deserved fate. Instead Jesus endured greater pain and further rejection on the cross and then through history as the bulk of humanity has continued to reject him. 

     In the famous Love chapter, the Holy Spirit reveals that love is paramount, and then describes it as bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and enduring all things. Let’s adopt the attitude that our dogs have about us but apply it as Jesus did to all those around us. Let’s commit to doing that even when we are hurt and there is potential to be hurt again. Let’s allow the scriptures’ description of love be a description of us.

Perhaps we could learn something about love by considering our pets, but especially by considering the scriptures.

~ Kevin Cleary